Bich Family's Legal Battle for Fra Angelico's "Saint Sixtus"

The heirs of the Bic pen fortune, Charles, Gonzalve, and Guillaume Bich, are engaged in a legal battle to reclaim "Saint Sixtus," a 15th-century masterpiece by Fra Angelico, which they allege was stolen by their family chauffeur, Roy Morrow, two decades ago. The painting, valued at $5.4 million, was reportedly funneled into the art market through a series of illegal transactions and is currently in the possession of Colombian industrialist Alvaro Saieh.

The Independent

Marcel Bich, the founder of the Bic company, purchased "Saint Sixtus" for £130,000 at a Sotheby’s auction on December 6, 1972. Following his death in 1994, the painting was placed in trust for his three grandsons. It hung in Bruno Bich's apartment until it disappeared in 2006. The Bich family claims they only recently discovered that Morrow had stolen the artwork during a move.

The Independent

After the theft, Morrow allegedly approached art dealer Richard Feigen to sell "Saint Sixtus." The Bich family's complaint asserts that Feigen should have recognized the suspicious nature of the transaction, given Morrow's lack of documentation or art-collecting background. Despite this, Feigen purchased the painting for $3 million and later sold it through Christie’s to Saieh for $5.4 million in 2018.

The Independent

In 2023, the Bich brothers demanded the return of "Saint Sixtus" from Saieh, asserting that the painting had been stolen and that no legitimate ownership had been established in its chain of possession. They also sought proceeds from the sale from Feigen’s estate, but these attempts were unsuccessful, leading them to file a lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court.

The Independent

The Bich family's legal actions have drawn attention to the complexities surrounding stolen art. Former FBI agent Robert Wittman noted that even good-faith buyers, like Saieh, become victims in such cases, as they cannot rightfully own stolen works. The Bich brothers have also faced internal family disputes over art and wealth, complicating their public narrative.

The Independent

The Bich family has not publicly commented on the ongoing litigation beyond their court filings. Their attorney, Luke Nikas, has referred inquiries to the complaint itself. Meanwhile, Saieh and the estate of Richard Feigen have not responded to requests for comment.

The Independent

The Bich brothers are seeking a court order to compel Saieh to return "Saint Sixtus," along with financial restitution from Feigen’s estate. As the case unfolds, it highlights the broader implications of art theft and the challenges faced by families in reclaiming stolen cultural heritage.

The Independent

• “could not have been more suspicious,” — Bich family complaint

The Independent

• “In the end, former FBI agent Robert Wittman, who founded the bureau’s Art Crime Team, said everyone involved with a piece of stolen art, even a good-faith buyer, becomes a victim.” — Robert Wittman, former FBI agent

The Independent

• “They paid good money for something they can’t own.” — Robert Wittman, on the implications of art theft

The Independent